CRT Testing @ Valencia

Soup :: CRTs Begin Testing At Valencia :: 01-31-2012

De Puniet was quickest at 1:35.3 after 38 laps an ART (Aprilia), followed by Espargaro at 1:36.7 and Pasini at 1:37.8.

RDP's top time on a 1000cc CRT machine in dry conditions was 1.2 seconds slower than the fastest race lap of the Valencia Grand Prix by an 800cc bike last November - 1:34.167 by Andrea Dovizioso in the wet. Casey Stoner won the pole at 1:31.8 in the dry, a whopping 3.5 seconds quicker than RDP on Tuesday. Stoner led Saturday practice in the dry at 1:32.6, still 2.7 seconds quicker than De Puniet's best.

Another damning statistic about the state of CRT right now: Pol Espargaro, Aleix's brother, led the Moto2 test in November at Valencia at 1:36.0. That's right: Pol's 600 was just seven-tenths off De Puniet's best, and it was quicker than brother Aleix's 1000cc CRT.

Looks like we'll have a class within a class.

It's only a test, and it's quite unfair to compare to a fully tested 800 cc bike ridden by Dovi, but I don't think the gap will close much.

^are you diggin the crt? Anyone here watch bsb? how do you like the class system is that series?

I dig the purpose of the CRT bikes, I'm just not optimistic about its actual effects to the org.

I'm all for a ton of bikes on the grid, but I don't want to see two groups that are further split into two smaller groups. Stoner, the Hondas, the Yamahas will be up front, Rossi and Hayden straggling along... then the satellite rookie guys. Additionally, you'll now have a CRT group lapping a few seconds behind each lap, and their fast/slow riders.

It will be interesting if that's what happens.